How many times have you heard a bawling baby or
a screaming toddler in a movie theatre and wondered
what in the world they are doing there? They are
with their parents, watching a movie, to which they
cannot relate to at any level. To a young child
the supposedly “entertaining experience”
of watching a film on silver screen, ends up being
a very traumatic one, keeping in mind the extreme
movies spawned these days.

Most parents, now-a-days do not exert any discretion, when
it comes to the kind of movies they allow their children
to watch, be it at home or in a theatre. Any film they decide
to watch, the child watches too, no holds barred. Even when
they figure out during the course of the film, that it is
not kid-friendly in any way, they callously continue to
sit through the remainder of the film, oblivious to the
terrified young child beside them. Some parents use the
timeless ploy of asking the child to close his eyes, the
moment an inappropriate scene comes on, or one of the parents
rushes outside with the screaming child. This leaves the
child more petrified and bewildered than ever. Do we really
need to make the movie -going experience so complicated,
for both ourselves and our children? Is there a simpler,
sensible way out of this situation?

The Censor Board of India certifies films (made in India
and those made outside of India and released in India, either
dubbed or in its original form) with a U (universal), UA
(Universal adult, inappropriate for children under 12),
A (adult) or an S rating (special-a very rare category).There
have been several allegations against the Censor Board stating
that their rating system is erratic and inconsistent. To
make matters worse, most theatres in India and theatres
screening Indian movies outside of India are very lenient
when it comes to enforcing rules and guidelines for children
accompanying their parents to movies. Nuclear families,
on the other hand make best use of this situation and let
their children tag along as a matter of convenience as they
cannot leave their child alone at home or do not have any
reliable source of childcare.

Some
parents feel that babies under a year of age are too
young to even remotely understand the content of the
film, so no harm done there. The Dolby and the other
fashionable surround sound gizmos in theatres and
multiplexes today are extremely loud and can cause
serious injury and damage to a baby’s delicate
and developing eardrum. Children from ages 3-8 could
get nightmares for days and weeks together after watching
a disturbing film. It could be excessive violence,
blood, or graphic scenes which can haunt a child’s
psyche, robbing them of sleep and leading to fear
and anxiety. Parents of older children (7-15yrs) can
elucidate the reasons as to why they cannot watch
a certain film. Banning them from watching a film
either at home or in a theater, without explanation
will leave the child in a state of irresistible curiosity
and they will find ways to sneak out and watch the
film without their parents’ knowledge.

If
you want to take your kids along and experience the magic
of the big screen, go for a fun family film. There is no
dearth of animated and cartoons films, from Disney Pixar
and other Hollywood production houses which are released
in India as well. Many of them are dubbed into regional
languages too. Be well informed, do some research, and educate
yourself before subjecting your child to something you might
regret later. Read reviews and ask friends who have seen
the film and then decide whether it is appropriate for your
child. But do not always trust other sources. YOU be the
final judge of what you allow your child to watch, because
no one knows your child better than you.

We most certainly need more of mainstream children’s
cinema in Tamil and other southern languages. There are
hardly any films made to cater to a younger audience. Recently,
there have been many animated children’s films made
in North India like “My friend Ganesha”, “Hanuman”,
“Krishna” etc. which have done very well all
over India. Many popular actors have a lot of fans in children
and young adults. But unfortunately their films are sometimes
laced with ample violence and vulgarity which is not suitable
for children. Film-makers on their part can keep the films
that feature these popular heroes clean and wholesome so
that kids can enjoy them as well, though this definitely
seems a challenging proposition for commercial cinema.

It is true that we cannot protect and shield our children
forever from the harsh realities of everyday life. But until
they are old enough to receive this information responsibly
and process it wisely and accurately, they should be fiercely
guarded and protected. Children are children only for a
very short span of time, after which they become mundane
adults like all of us. So let them be, as nature intended
them to be- vibrant, innocent, simple and transparent. We
owe it to them.